Full Breakdown
Abbas Calls for Two-State Solution at UN Amid Visa Ban
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 24, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a pre-recorded video address to the United Nations General Assembly after the United States denied him a visa for the second consecutive year. In the speech he accused Israel of conducting a “genocidal war” in Gaza, described the situation as an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” and renewed calls for a democratic, non-militarized Palestinian state living in security alongside Israel.
Background & Context
The Trump administration barred Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials from entering the United States, citing alleged failure to meet peace-process commitments. The UN General Assembly, after a vote of 152-3 with four abstentions, granted an exception allowing the video address. The visa denial marks the second year of the restriction, reflecting a broader U.S. policy of limiting Palestinian participation in international forums.
Data & Statistics
- The Gaza Health Ministry reports at least 73,922 Palestinians killed since the war began in October 2023.
- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency estimates more than 1,000 Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank during the same period.
- Settlement expansion in the West Bank, including the controversial “E1” project, is cited by Abbas as fragmenting Palestinian territory and threatening the viability of a future state.
- Palestinian legislative elections are scheduled for 28 November, followed by a presidential election.
Official Statements & Responses
- Abbas asserted that “preventing me from coming to address the General Assembly is a violation of UN procedures,” urging the international community to act against what he described as Israeli settlement expansion, “state terrorism,” and attempts to displace Palestinians.
- The U.S. State Department justified the visa denial by stating that the Palestinian Authority had failed to live up to its peace-process commitments and was “undermining prospects for peace.”
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking later that day, defended Israel’s right to defend itself and warned delegates who remained in the hall, framing the conflict as part of a broader struggle against Iran.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We warn you today: Do not allow another Nakba to occur,” — Mahmoud Abbas, palestinian president
- “We seek a democratic Palestinian state that respects the rule of law and human rights, a non-militarized state that lives in security and peace alongside the state of Israel,” — Mr. Abbas, palestinian president
- “We will not leave our homeland. We will not accept displacement. And we will not allow anyone to decide our future on our behalf,” — Mahmoud Abbas, palestinian president
- “In defending itself, Israel is also also defending many of the countries whose delegates just left this hall,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister
- “If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Casualty figures for Palestinians vary across sources; the Gaza Health Ministry’s tally of 73,922 deaths differs from other estimates that have not been independently verified within the provided material. No comparable Israeli casualty figures are supplied in the source set.
What’s Next
The Palestinian Authority plans to hold legislative elections on 28 November, with a presidential election to follow, as part of its stated roadmap toward statehood.